That's What the Fans Like to Hear...

I found the most amazing article on the Mahalo liveblog! According to some new research sex is nature's greatest cure-all. This article from Nerds Do It Better takes 25 common ailments and explains how a night of steamy, hot sex will have you feeling better in no time! I highly recommend...

Nature's Nasty Cure-All

President Barack Obama

As I spent most of my evening glued to my television, watching the electoral votes coming rolling in for Senator, now President elect Obama, I have never been more proud of my country.

Having supported the Gore/Liberman ticket in 2000, and voted for the Kerry/Edwards ticket in 2004, there were times when I wondered if American politics would ever go my way. Tonight I watched history be made. I can't wait to someday, many years from now, tell my grandchildren what I was doing on the night that America elected, not only the first African-American president, but the first president to lay out a plan for an America that I yearned to live in.

I'm elated, euphoric, relieved and hopeful as I look forward to Obama's first term in the White House.

Tomorrow I plan to track down all my friends, family and acquaintances who said this would never happen, and rub Obama's political win in their faces. But that's tomorrow, tonight I'm going to celebrate this great win for our country and the world.

Election Reults 2008

After what seems like the world's longest campaign season Election Day 2008 is FINALLY here! Though I'm definitely not a morning person, you're lucky to catch me out of bed before 11 am, my husband Ty and I sprang out of bed promptly at 9 am. That alone is nothing short of a MIRACLE! We did our morning workout, showered, dressed and headed out to our polling place: the Montana ExpoPark.

Voting was awesome. There were four of us and it took a total of 15 minutes max for us to get in and out. Ty was snagged by an exit poller on the way out...he was so excited!

I was especially proud of my brothers Matt and Jacob. This was their first general election and they dove into it with gusto. Jacob spent two hours before he went to work calling/texting all of his friend and encouraging/badgering them to vote. Ah....I'm such a proud older sister!

I'm so excited...and increasingly anxious. If you're like me, and want to stay up-to-date with all the latest election news, here's a list of some of Mahalo's awesome election coverage pages. Check them out!

• Alabama Election Results
  
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Me On the Issues...Abortion and Gay Marriage

My mom and I were having a discussion about some of the things she's been hearing from her crazy Republican friends about the election. She forwarded a couple of their emails, on the issues of Abortion and Gay Marriage, to me, and it angered the blogger in me so much that I had no choice but to spew out the following:

Abortion is a funny issue. If you're the type of person that vehemently opposes abortion then you're not very likely to be getting one. Why not let people make their own decisions on what to do and not do with themselves?

I really don't support the initiatives that require parental consent for abortions for minors. If kids thought that they could talk to their parents about that sort of thing then they probably wouldn't be needing an abortion in the first place. It's sad, but sometimes parents are even the cause of their children's problems in this regard. If safe abortions are not available for kids in these horrible between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place type of situations, who is naive enough to believe that said child will then choose to go through with the pregnancy and consider the softer options like adoption? What kind of world do these people think we live in? Rather than making an appointment with an adoption agency these girls are going to be making an appointment with a wire coat hanger. Bad news.

I've posed this argument to people several times. I always get the question, "Well, wouldn't you want to know if your minor child was getting an abortion?" My response: I wouldn't have fostered an environment that made my child think they couldn't talk to me about something that important. I can't stand the parenting approach that thinks excessive restrictions are a suitable replacement for involvement.

Gay marriage is actually another one of my favorite issues. People talk a lot about preserving the "sanctity of marriage" by keeping the institution of marriage between a man and a woman. How crass of supposedly refined and righteous people to suggest that the sanctity of marriage hinges on a penis and a vagina rather than on the enduring love and commitment between two people.

If marriage, as it's been suggested, is such a sacred institution, then we heterosexuals should be ashamed for what we've made of it. With domestic violence and divorce rates what they are then Christians the world over should be demanding that marriage be protected from us...the straight people!

I'm very happily married and the thought of sharing the institution of marriage with homosexuals doesn't threaten me or my marriage in the slightest. The only marriage whose sanctity I'm concerned with preserving is my own. Two men or two women choosing to devote their lives to one another and marry doesn't impact my marriage, or the "sanctity" of the institution at all, though it does tread on the "sensibilities" of Conservatives. What an archaic, twisted worldview to believe that the world would be worse for having more love in it.

Legalized gay marriage: three down, forty-seven states to go.

Obama's "Fight the Smears" website...

Don't believe the lies...learn the truth behind the rumors on Obama's Fight the Smears website!

Fight the Smears

Boston Globe: "How to Fight a Rumor"

I just read the most fascinating article on the Boston Globe website. In light of all the rumors circulating about both candidates this election year, the Boston Globe's Jesse Singal wrote an article about new research into the science of rumors. Check it out, it's amazing!

Boston Globe: How to Fight a Rumor

Connecticut Overturns Ban on Gay Marriage...

and it's about time! Three down, forty-seven states to go...

Don't Vote Celebrity PSA

Mahalo Gets a Make-Over and News Buzz!

Mahalo, the awesome people-powered search engine that I work for as a Remote Guide, debuted a slick new look for the site today. Not only does it look amazing, but the snazzy new look of the site has attracted the attention of some pretty high-profile publications. See what they're saying:

Washington Post: Mahalo Sets Out to Liveblog the World

L.A. Times: Mahalo Debuts News Feed

CNET: Mahalo Gets Live News Ticker

Silicon Alley Insider: Jason Calacanis Turns Mahalo Into a News Operation...

Matt Damon (Justifyably) Criticizes Sarah Palin in a Little Clip I Like to Call "Because She's Going to Have the Nuclear Codes"

Reasons Why Sarah Palin Makes My Skin Crawl...

...in no particular order

(Click on the links to be whisked away to relevant Mahalo pages...)

1. Sarah Palin Library Book Ban

As mayor of Wasillia, Alaska Sarah Palin pressured librarian Mary Ellen Baker to agree to remove books containing "objectionable material". When Baker refused to participate in censorship Palin tried to have Baker fired, but backed off due to public outcry. After being pressured by Palin to remove "objectionable" books multiple times during Palin's first term as mayor, Baker ultimately resigned her position before Palin began her second term.

I'm really passionate about this one. "Objectionable material"? What is that, and who decides? For those of us who have read Fahrenheit 451 it's clear that censorship of the written word is out of the question. If there's a book that offends you...don't read it. If you don't want your kids to read said book...don't let them. You don't go out and build a bonfire.

2. Palin Troopergate

As Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin pressured Anchorage Commissioner of Public Safety Walt Monegan to fire her former brother-in-law state trooper Mike Wooten. While Wooten's record as a trooper is less than spotless, Palin went out of her way to try to get him fired over a nasty custody battle Wooten was having with Palin's sister Molly McCann. When Monegan refused to fire Wooten, he himself was dismissed.

Abuse of power? Well, a bipartisan committee of Alaskan legislators thought the Troopergate scandal serious enough to open an investigation into a possible ethics violation. While Sarah Palin initially agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation she is now refusing to meet with prosecutors and her husband, Todd Palin, ignored his subpoena to appear before the Alaska Senate Judiciary Committee on September 19. I can't speak for anyone else, but I know I'm not keen to get on board with another four or possibly eight years of corruption.


3. Sarah Palin Opposes Comprehensive Sex Education in Schools

Abstinence-only sex education is both unrealistic and dangerous. While not all teenagers are going to have sex in high school, a large number will. If Americans don't want their children to end up like Bristol Palin, pregnant at age 17, we need leaders who will lead by supporting contraceptive education to be taught alongside abstinence education.

4. Shotgun Wedding

Speaking of Bristol Palin, that brings me to another point... Bristol Palin, pregnant at 17, is being pressured to marry the baby's father Levi Johnston. Really? In 2008? Sources close to both teenagers report that neither is blissful about the upcoming nuptials. However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel...if we don't vote for McCain and Palin doesn't become vice president the two may not have to get hitched.

5. Sarah Palin Has No (Foreign Policy) Experience

In a recent interview with Katie Couric Sarah Palin defended her lack of foreign policy experience by pointing out Alaska's close proximity to Russia. Really? I'm sorry, that doesn't cut it...if it did, living in Montana would make me a special emissary to Canada.

6. Sarah Palin Is Hot...Or So They Say

Recently, my 50-something-year-old uncle told me that, for the first time in his life, he's registered to vote. While I applaud his, and anyone's, participation in the elections process of our nation I was SUPREMELY disappointed to learn that he registered for the sole purpose of voting for Sarah Palin...because she's hot. Startlingly enough, I've heard this same reason from more than one person. Maybe someone should remind these people that the 2008 Election is not the Miss Alaska pageant. Come on folks, if the game of politics was about looks we would have had John Edwards as president years ago.

7. Joe Six-Pack?

Sarah Palin has used the term "Joe Six-Pack" to describe herself in an attempt to connect with middle class voters. I balk at this term because I am "Joe Six-Pack", and unlike Sarah Palin I don't have a private retirement account stocked with $164,699, another retirement account with $198,102 and combined with my husband make $215,000 a year. "Joe Six-Pack"? I think not!

8. Sarah Palin Supports Drilling For Oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge

I think the key word here is "refuge"...which it would cease to be if drilling were allowed. In reference to drilling for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge Sarah Palin has tried to wrap the idea in a nice little package by talking about the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. She's right about that, though she's far from the first person to say so. What she doesn't bother to mention is that it would take 10 YEARS for Americans to see even one drop of that oil. Ten years is a long time...like two and half presidential terms long.

There are several other reasons why the idea of drilling for oil in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge steps on my toes...other than the obvious rape of a pristine portion of the country. Oil is an archaic form of energy which we should be striving to move away from completely. We could invest millions, but more likely, billions, of dollars drilling in the Artic or we could take that same amount of money and use it to focus on the clean, renewable forms of energy that are the future.

Oh, and did I mention that not even John McCain supports drilling in the Artic National Wildlife Refuge?

9. Sarah Palin Believes That Dinosaurs and Man Roamed the Earth at the Same Time

Palin, former beauty pageant "Miss Congeniality" winner, local news sportscaster, and Alaskan politician, dares to laugh in the face of undeniable scientific proof that dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years.

10. Palin Opposes a Woman's Right to Choose...Even in Cases of Rape and Incest

I am a firm supporter of a woman's right to choose. I fully and completely support legal, safe and available abortions for women who elect to have the procedure. Now, expecting the same from any Republican candidate would be far-fetched, but Sarah Palin opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest. Palin, like so many other Pro-Life supporters miss the point that being Pro-Choice doesn't make you Pro-Baby-Death. It's about freedom, personal choice and responsibility, and keeping right-wing morals away from the bodies of American women.

11. Sarah Palin Says She'll Fight to Defend the Phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance...Because it Was "Good Enough For the Founding Fathers"

For those that may not be aware, the Pledge of Allegiance was written in the late 19th century...meaning that the founding fathers had no hand in crafting the oft-recited loyalty oath. Not only that, but the phrase "Under God" wasn't added to the Pledge of Allegiance until the 1950s. Furthermore, the founding fathers were made up of agnostics, atheists and deists...who probably wouldn't have wanted the phrase "Under God" to be there in the first place.

(Thanks to Lon's blog Crushed by Inertia for bringing this enormous historical gaffe to my attention.)

Conclusion:

If elected, at 72-years-old, John McCain would be the oldest first-term president in U.S. history. The odds of his living through a first, and possibly second, presidential term are not very good...certainly nothing I'd stake my hard-earned money on. If McCain were to become president we'd be a literally a heartbeat (or lack there of) away from living under the reign of a very foolish, very inexperienced President Palin (*shudder*).

The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame

Chocked full of sci-fi memorabilia and spouting more trivia than any geek could sneeze at, the Sci-Fi Museum was a fun place to be. We saw weapons, costumes, miniatures, and props from many different sci-fi television shows and films. I was especially excited to see the actual captain's chair from the original Star Trek...it looks pretty shabby these days but was a thrill to see nonetheless.

My favorite thing about the Sci-Fi Museum was the randomly overheard geek chatter. Ty, Matt and I consider ourselves geeks. We play Dungeons and Dragons, video games, and watch Sci-Fi films, but walking through this museum we felt like the coolest people in the whole world. The people there were geekier than we had ever thought of being. It was cool.

The Experience Music Project

The Frank O. Gehry-designed Experience Music Project museum is the first thing we saw when we approached the Seattle Center. I don't know quite how to describe the building as it looks ridiculous/amazing. Regardless it was definitely worth seeing.

We got into the museum and picked up our Seattle City Passes from the ticket counter there. The EMP is cool with lots of music trivia and memorabilia on a wide range of recording artists. As the museum began with founder Paul Allen's personal collection of Jimi Hendrix memorabilia there is a lot of space dedicated to him and his music. I had very little knowledge of Hendrix previously and was able to learn a lot.

In the lobby between the Experience Music Project and the adjoining Sci-Fi Museum and Hall of Fame there is an awesome sculpture built out of different working instruments. Watching the sculpture play itself was the highlight of the EMP for me.

Upstairs at EMP are a group of recording booths where you can sign up to lay your own tracks. It was very cool, but the wait was horrendous so we didn't stay to try it out for ourselves.

The EMP was very hip, and I enjoyed myself, but I have the feeling that if I would have been a Hendrix fan I would have been in pure heaven!

Restaurant #11-Kell's Irish Restaurant and Pub

Around eleven o'clock on our third and last night in Seattle I realized that I had not yet been to the one other place that I'd been dying to go to in Seattle: Kell's Irish Restaurant and Pub. Having been to Ireland and loved it I'm a sucker for Irish pubs and this one in particular had received high marks from all of the guidebooks I read. I was promised authentic Irish pub food, a delightful atmosphere and live music every night. How could I resist?

Ty had a full day of driving ahead of him since we were going all the way back to Great Falls in one day. He was really tired so Matt and I let him sleep, hailed a cab, and headed off to Post Alley to check out Kell's.

There are two sides to Kell's, a bar side and a restaurant side. We unknowingly walked into the restaurant side and were the only ones there. Music coming from an adjacent room clued us in to that being the place to be.

We were seated by a lovely barmaid who, when we asked if they were still serving food at all, said, "No, we've only got..." and then rattled off four different types of stew. Stew sounded perfect so Matt and I each ordered a bowl of the Beef and Barley. The stew was amazing, served in a good-sized bowl, and accompanied by slices of Irish brown bread and butter. Tasty! I really can't say enough good things about it. As it was only $4.50 a bowl it was probably the best and least expensive food I had during the entire trip.

Matt and I both started off with coffee with Baileys followed by two gigantic bottles of hard cider whose name I can't recall, but it was good enough that I'm willing to hunt to the ends of the earth to try it.

The atmosphere at Kell's was awesome. Lit by candlelight and with a lived-in, but classy feel it was easy to feel at home right away. The live music that night was by a Kell's regular Liam Gallagher who sang a blend of delightful classic Irish folk songs and equally delightful ones that he had penned himself. He had two CDs available and I purchased and am enjoying both.

Matt and I had a great time and felt extra cool after our little adventure. Great Falls doesn't have much to offer in the way of awesome bars so we spent a lot of the ride home wishing there was a Kell's we could go to regularly.

Restaurant #10-The Pike Place Brewing Company

Having packed the entire Woodland Park Zoo, a mis-directional adventure, and a sushi stop for Ty it was around three o'clock when we sat down to eat at the Pike Place Brewing Company. This was one of the Seattle restaurants that I was really excited about. I'd read great things in numerous guidebooks about their tasty on-site brews and down-to-earth American pub food. Since I hadn't eaten yet that day I was even more excited to get down to business.

Ty and Matt ordered the Dungeness Crab and Artichoke Dip as an appetizer and bothered me about trying it the whole time we were waiting for it to arrive to our table. When it finally got there I had a little taste and would have liked the dip just fine had the creamy cheesiness not degenerated into a fish taste. High marks from the guys, but as I've said numerous times, fish is just not for me.

For his meal Ty ordered the Son of Reuben sandwich, which claimed to be a half of their regular Reuben but came out being the biggest Reuben sandwich I had ever seen! It was served with organic potato chips and a pickle. Matt and I had the Cheddar Bacon Burger which might sound like standard fare, but was in fact juicy, delicious and hit the spot!

The thing that I was most excited about trying at the Pike Place Brewing Company was the Pike Sampler. The Pike Sampler is six, four ounce samples of their different brews. They come with a beer list that tells a little about each brew and gives a recommended tasting order. I'd read about this and I was thrilled. I ordered one the minute we got there, assuming that, because Matt hates beer as much as I hate fish, Ty and I would just share it. Then I heard Ty say, "That sounds great. I'll have one also." I shrugged to myself, it wouldn't matter, there definitely was not enough alcohol there to get me tipsy.

What I hadn't been considering was that I hadn't eaten yet at all that day, and as my alcohol arrived before my food I was drinking on a completely empty stomach. By the end of the meal, when I went to stand up, I realized that I had gone way beyond tipsy and entered the completely smashed zone. Our next stop was the Seattle Art Museum to see an exhibit on Roman art on loan from the Louvre. How I held it all together there is actually a quite comedic story, which I'll post later.

More about the Pike Sampler. There are the brews and their descriptions in the recommended tasting order:

Pike Naughty Nellie-Golden artisan ale
This was probably my favorite of all the brews we tasted at the Pike Brewing Company. It was light, had a good flavor and went down really smooth. If only I could find it here in Great Falls I would drink it all the time!!

Pike Pale Ale-Classic full-bodied ale with copper color and nutty malt flavor
The Pale Ale was also really good. The nutty flavor was really a good touch.

Pike IPA-Deep golden amber color with an assertive hops character and a delicate floral bouquet
I'd never had any kind of IPA, so this was an unexpected hit with me. This ties with the Naughty Nellie for being my favorite beer on the sampler. It was easy to drink and I could actually taste the "floral bouquet". I don't know, there's just something awesome about having your beer taste like flowers!!

Pike Kilt Lifter-Scotch style ruby ale, medium hopped with a powerful, sweet malt character
The Kilt Lifter was one of Ty's favorite beers on the sampler. I had had the Kilt Lifter previously at a restaurant in Bozeman, Montana. It's good, but it wasn't my favorite and I probably wouldn't drink it all the time.

Pike XXXXX Stout-Gorgeous reddish-black color, great head, a deep dark-roasted flavor with tones of chocolate, coffee and a satisfying aftertaste
Their description really says it all. The Pike XXXXX was great.

Pike Tandem-Dark brown ale brewed with barley and 10% wheat plus candy sugar for a complex rich flavor and a finish of tobacco and molasses
The Pike Tandem was another of Ty's favorites. It was really quite tasty and kind of tasted like what might happen if they sweetened Guinness a bit.

We all had such an amazing time at the Pike Place Brewing Company. It was good service, great food, awesome beer and tons of good times!

Restaurant #9-Sushi Kyo

On our third and final day in Seattle we decided to skip breakfast and head straight for the zoo. After the zoo we go back on the bus to go downtown, but got off at the wrong stop. I got turned around and we walked about eight blocks or so in the totally wrong direction. This would have been a complete tragedy had Ty not spotted this cute little sushi restaurant.

Ty is the sushi man in our group. I don't like seafood and Matt is just a little on the fence when it comes to sushi. So Matt and I had a soda and sat this one out while Ty enjoyed a Scorpion Roll. According to him it was some of the best sushi he'd ever had. This made me happy as it distracted everyone from realizing that we were about to have to turn around and walk a good long way to Pike Place Market!

With great, polite service and tasty sushi, Sushi Kyo was one of Ty's favorite food stops on our Seattle trip.

Restaurant #8-Milano Pizza and Pasta

After another busy day exploring Seattle and the Progressive Nation concert that lasted until almost midnight we were back at our hotel, famished again. This time we decided to order from another late night delivery Italian restaurant, Milano.

I ordered one of their pasta dishes, Tortellini Cream. This was cheese-filled tortellini in a garlic cream sauce served with garlic bread and Italian Turkey Noodle soup. The garlic bread was bit dry and overly-seasoned, but the pasta and the soup were some of the best food that I ate while I was in Seattle. Matt was pleased with his calzone, but Ty was a little underwhelmed with his Greek Gyro.

The delivery from Milano took a considerable amount of time longer to arrive than our food from Padrino's, so our food was a little on the room-temperature side. With not as great service I wouldn't recommend this restaurant as highly as Padrino's unless you're planning to order the Tortellini Cream which was amazing!!

Restaurant #7-Ivar's

Ivar's has been a Pier 54 tradition since it opened in 1938. Mentioned in just about every Seattle guidebook you just can't leave Seattle without stopping at Ivar's. Because I don't care for seafood I sat this one out. Ty, who had the Fried Haddock and Chip, and Matt, who had the Clam Chowder in a bread bowl, throughly enjoyed themselves. Though we had just enough time for them to stop and eat at the Pier 54 restaurant, Matt and Ty are looking forward to a nice sit-down dinner at one of Ivar's other more formal locations the next time we're in Seattle.

Restaurant #6-Lowell's

Situated in Pike Place Market is the three-story local favorite Lowell's. For years Lowell's has been voted the Best Breakfast in Seattle by Citysearch's Best Of and the New York Times. We arrived just after they'd finished serving breakfast so we seated ourselves in the full-service bar and prepared for a delightful lunch with beautiful views of the waterfront.

We were in a bar, so with a sly "when in Rome..." attitude Ty and I ordered a couple of Wyder's Hard Pear Ciders. We were unfamiliar with the brand, but very pleased with the taste. After a little research I later found out that Wyder's makes Raspberry, Peach and Apple hard ciders as well and I'm looking forward to trying them out at some point if I can find them here in Montana. Incidentally, Matt ordered a Washington Red Apple that was made so well that he was actually a little bit tipsy when we left!

Because we still had a lot of the market to explore and we were planning to eat a little here and there along the way we all ordered an appetizer for our lunch at Lowell's. Ty had the Dungeness Crab Cocktail and really enjoyed it. Matt, having recently been introduced to calamari by Ty, chose the Calamari Steak Strips. He and Ty both raved about them. I had regular old chicken tenders and fries, but they were delicious and hit the spot!

One of the most memorable things about our lunch at Lowell's was the group of gentlemen behind us who were stereotypically and relentlessly trying to pick up the waitress. It was pretty humorous until one of the guy's wives decided to join them. All in all some great fun. Nice service, tasty food, and great people-watching entertainment.

Restaurant #5-Le Panier Very French Bakery

On our second day in Seattle we decided to explore Pike Place Market. We'd planned to wait to eat until we found a sit-down restaurant in the market that struck our fancy, but the glorious scent wafting out of Le Panier found us and it was clear we would have to have something.

Ty saw brioche and that was that. We walked out munching on a couple of deliciously rich and buttery rolls.

Not only were the baked goods to die for, but the service was pleasant in this classy little bakery. The girl at the counter, recognizing that we weren't from around there, asked where we were visiting from. She turned out to be from Red Lodge, Montana which is just about four hours from Great Falls. What a small world!

Restaurant #4-Padrino's Pizza and Pasta

In Great Falls, Montana you only have a handful of choices for food after midnight. We've got our standard Burger King and Hardee's, both open 24 hours, a couple of gross run-down diners, and a truck stop restaurant by the airport. We understand how pathetic our lack of choices in after-hours dining is, but being in Seattle, with all their late night food choices, was like rubbing salt into a wound.

After spending the entire day going to museums and exploring downtown Seattle we dragged ourselves back to the hotel to take advantage of the glorious indoor pool and hot tub. When we were finished swimming we were starving. Where to eat? We had to look no further than the front desk of our hotel where we found leaflet after leaflet advertising free late night delivery of a variety of tasty-looking foods.

In the end we chose Padrino's Pizza and Pasta. I was dying to eat the Spinach Stromboli which was spinach, feta, cottage and ricotta cheese baked in dough similar to a calzone. Ty ordered the Salmon Fettuccine with mushrooms, capers, and basil in a white garlic sauce. Matt went for a classic Italian Meatball sandwich made with homemade meatballs, Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce.

The food we ordered arrived quickly and was still piping hot when it got to us. The Spinach Stromboli was great. I was glad we had the mini-fridge in our hotel room because it was way too huge to eat all in one sitting. Matt was a fan of his meatball sandwich, but Ty said that while his pasta was good, it just didn't kick his socks off.

All in all we were quite pleased with Padrino's food and speedy service. Not only would we have their food again, but we'd recommend it to anyone with a case of the late-night munchies!!

Restaurant #3- Elephant & Castle Pub and Restaurant

After having visited the Experience Music Project, the Sci-Fi Museum and Hall of Fame, shopped at the Westlake Center and explored downtown on foot, we were both hungry and exhausted so we ducked into the Elephant and Castle Pub located on the lower level of the Red Lion Grand Hotel.

This British-style pub and restaurant is dimly lit for a comfortable, homey feel, and we were seated next to a fireplace and a bookcase loaded with classics. The service was very classy, friendly and attentive without interrupting the flow of our meal. Ty and I started off the meal with a pint of on-tap Guinness. Ty had never had Guinness on tap before, but after this I think he knows why I sing its praises. With a thick foamy head and little black rings on your glass as you drink it down...heaven.

I was determined to have one of their authentic British pub meals so I opted for the Stuffed Yorkshire Pudding which was roast beef and caramelized onions stuffed into a Yorkshire pudding and topped with delicious gravy. It was absolutely delicious, as were the accompanying red skin garlic mashed potatoes and green beans.

Ty chose the Jameson's Chicken, probably just because he's a fan of the whiskey. He turned out to be an equal fan of this tasty chicken dish that consisted of a grilled chicken breast smothered in mushroom-whiskey cream sauce. Matt followed suit and ordered the Guinness Meatloaf with Guinness-braised vegetables.

The Elephant and Castle was one of the restaurants we enjoyed in Seattle. The atmosphere, service, and food was superb.

Restaurant #2- Bombay Wala Indian Cuisine

While I didn't actually eat here I definitely have to talk about this little restaurant in the Westlake Center Food Court. We visited the Westlake Center several times because we used the Monorail from Seattle Center to Westlake Center to get to the downtown area. Regrettably, every time we were there we had either just come from eating somewhere or we were on way to eat somewhere. But the ladies working at the Bombay Wala Indian Cuisine counter were always very friendly and offering samples. Up to this point I don't believe I've ever had Indian food, but when I put that mini-spoon of glorious Butter Chicken in my mouth it was if I'd died and gone to heaven. Amazing!! On our next trip to Seattle, forget the food court at the Center House, I'm going straight to the Westlake Center where I will eat Butter Chicken until my heart's content!

Restaurant #1- Steamer's Fish & Chips/Center House Deli

Just having arrived in Seattle, after checking into our hotel, we headed off to explore Seattle Center. We wanted to grab a quick bite to eat before going to the Experience Music Project and the Science Fiction Museum so we made the food court in the Center House our first stop. So many choices, and everything looked delicious!

My husband, Ty, and brother, Matt, decided to eat at Steamer's Fish and Chips. They had calamari and giant shrimp, respectively. For a food court-style restaurant we were surprised to see that Steamer's served beer and wine, and while we were tempted we decided to save the boozing for another time.

Let's just get this out in the open right now--I do not like seafood. Since seafood dishes are the main attraction of Pacific Northwest cuisine the guys reminded me the entire trip that, in their opinions, I was definitely missing out.

With seafood off the table and me not feeling the chicken and chips at Steamer's, I went around the corner to the Center House Deli. I was looking for something light that wasn't going to make me want to curl up for a nap so I chose the cranberry turkey wrap. It was turkey breast, cranberry sauce, lettuce, and tomato wrapped in a tortilla spread with cream cheese. It hit the spot and was exactly what I'd been looking for.

While we didn't go back to eat in the Center House during our time in Seattle we'll probably pop in again next time and try something new.

Restaurants!!

We ate at tons of tasty restaurants during our stay in Seattle. The number of delicious choices vs. occasions for meals was ridiculously lopsided, forcing us to make some tough decisions about where to eat and when. Fortunately, we chose wisely and enjoyed our meals everywhere we ate. I'm going to review the restaurants individually, in chronological order.

Hotel #2- Quality Inn and Suites, Seattle, Washington

Though amenities weren't a concern for our one-night stay in Spokane Valley, it was another story entirely for Seattle. For accommodations during the main part of our trip I had three key factors to consider: price, location, and amenities, in that order. I spent literally hours online searching for reasonably-priced lodging, near attractions that we were interested in, preferably with a pool and hot tub. I went to all the major travel resource websites: Priceline, Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, and Hotwire, but eventually found the best deal on a website called Quikbook.

On Quikbook I was able to reserve our three-night stay at Quality Inn, only three blocks away from the Space Needle at Seattle Center, for just under $100 per night, almost $35 per night less than the offers I found on all the major travel sites. Even better was Quikbook's book now, pay later policy. Not only can you settle your bill when you arrive at the hotel, but you can make changes or cancel your reservation without incurring any fees.

So only five hours after checking out of Crossland Economy Studios in Spokane Valley we pulled up to Quality Inn and Suites Seattle Center, which was easy to find thanks to some on-target Mapquest directions. We were able to park for free in their parking garage, a feature that not all Seattle hotels offer. Check-in was quick and painless, and before we knew it we were out exploring the town.

The lobby was attractive and inviting, featuring a large television, coffee, computer with high-speed internet access, copies of USA Today, and probably the most comfortable couch on which I have ever had the pleasure of sitting. The folks at the front desk were friendly and helpful, answering my many public transportation-related questions.

Our room was a standard room, good-sized with two double beds that were quite comfortable. There was also a fridge, microwave, and table in the room which made it possible to bring home left-overs from all the delicious restaurants we visited. The first night we opened the curtains expecting to see a parking lot, or maybe the back side of the next door Travelodge, but were instead treated to a perfectly-framed view of the Space Needle. Awesome!

Since there is no smoking inside any buildings in Seattle, or even 25 ft. from entrances and exits, there was a large patio on our floor where smokers could duck out for a quick puff. Though I'm a non-smoker myself, the patio was really delightful on the first day we were there, the only day that it didn't rain!

On the main floor there was an indoor pool, hot tub, and electric sauna that was great for relaxing away the aches and pains of our fast-paced, adventure-filled days exploring the city. The pool, hot tub, and sauna area was open from 6 a.m. to midnight so it was usually open and available when we dragged ourselves back to the hotel in the evening. There was also a nice workout room with all the standard workout equipment in just the next room, but as we were always exhausted from walking all over the city we didn't take advantage of it.

Free continental breakfast was served in the quiet little breakfast room. Breakfast featured all the standard continental fare: bagels, toast, muffins, assorted pastries, boiled eggs, cereal, yogurt, and my favorite- waffles made in those pour and rotate waffle makers. All in all a great way to start your day.

As the days of our trip went by we were reminded again and again what a good choice Quality Inn and Suites had been. Not only did we get a great value, but the location was perfect, only a stroll away from Seattle Center and the Monorail Terminal where we could easily access the rest of the city. We were very, very pleased with every aspect of our stay and will surely stay there again on our next trip to Seattle.

Hotel #1- Crossland Economy Studios, Spokane Valley, Washington

The drive from Great Falls, Montana to Seattle, Washington is a long one; just over 645 miles. Since we were leaving on a Saturday after work we didn't want to have to drive the whole way in one shot. I consulted Mapquest to find a half-way stopping point and decided on Spokane, Washington, which only left four and a half hours to be driven the next morning. Since amenities and exact location were not a concern for this particular stay I decided to use Hotwire to make my reservation.

For those of you who are not familiar with Hotwire, they are an operating company of the much larger travel website Expedia. Hotwire specializes in selling opaque hotel accommodations, airline tickets, and car rentals. Opaque meaning that the specific hotel, airline, or car rental agency is hidden until your purchase is complete. Because of this, they are able to offer deep discounts and higher star-rated properties at lower star-rated prices. While this type of arrangement occasionally comes in handy it can feel a little like playing Pin the Tail on the Donkey with your travel plans.

I found a one-star property in Spokane Valley for $33 for our one-night stay and booked it immediately. Overall, my Hotwire gamble worked out fairly well with only a couple of snags. The first problem we encountered was finding the hotel. The sheet I printed out from Hotwire listed the hotel as an Extended Stay America, and then underneath said Crossland/Spokane Valley. We drove right past it the first time expecting to see Extended Stay America. After checking the address we went back and saw that it was actually Crossland Economy Studios, and in really small print, an Extended Stay America Hotel.

We didn't arrive at the hotel until around midnight. When we tried to check in at the office we saw that it was closed, with a sign instructing after-hours guests to use the phone out front to dial a number for assistance. The sign further advised that it may take up to an hour for someone to arrive after hours. I was slightly irritated that not only did the information I received from Hotwire not mention that special arrangements would have to be made for after hours check-in, but when I called the hotel directly the day before to confirm my reservation it wasn't mentioned either. So I was really relieved when a woman showed up to let us in about five minutes later. Problem solved.

Our room at Crossland Economy Studios was nice. It was obviously a budget hotel, but things were nice and clean, and there was a full kitchenette complete with mini fridge, stove, microwave, and cabinets stocked with pans, dishes, and silverware. The pillows were plump, the bed comfortable. We got a great deal for the price we paid so we took the mini glitches in stride. Crossland Economy Studios is perfect for budget-conscious, business, or long-term stay travelers. If given the opportunity I wouldn't mind staying with them again.

As for Hotwire, I would recommend the site for people who are just looking for a great deal and aren't too focused on the particulars of their accommodations. I will probably use them again to book travel reservations for short trips where specific amenities are not a concern.

The Reason

My husband, Ty, called me at work one day to excitedly tell me that his favorite band Opeth was playing in Seattle, Washington, as part of the metal Progressive Nation tour. Living in conservative central Montana metal acts, especially death metal ones, don't come near us often. As I said before, Opeth is Ty's favorite band, and has been for years. The opportunity to see them live defined this trip as, not just a vacation, but the culmination of a dream for him. Around the same time that we decided to go to Seattle, Ty started writing for the metal website metalunderground.com. They arranged for Ty to interview Opeth guitarist Fredrik Akesson, making the trip even more meaningful.

Though my brother, Matt, and I aren't really fans of heavy metal, we definitely wanted to come along for the experience. Besides, out of all the music my husband listens to Opeth has to be one of the bands that I enjoy more than most.

For me, the main draw to Seattle were all the museums, restaurants, shopping, and attractions. Also, being really passionate about eco-conservation, I couldn't wait to visit such a diverse, green-friendly city.

Seattle Adventure Planning

When planning a trip I like to do my homework, so a couple of months before we set out on our journey I went to the library and checked out all the Seattle guidebooks they had. Then I spent some serious time online gathering all the information that I could. The following are resources that I found especially useful.

Guidebooks
Frommer's Seattle 2007 by Karl Samson
Frommer's Seattle 2008 by Karl Samson
Lonely Planet's Seattle City Guide by Becky Ohlsen
Fodor's Seattle (4th Edition)

Websites
Seattle's Convention and Visitor's Bureau
www.visitseattle.org

Visiting Seattle, the Official Site of the City of Seattle
www.ci.seattle.wa.us

Emerald City- Seattle Washington
www.seattle.net

Hotels, Restaurants, Attractions, and More
www.seattle.com

Seattle, Washington Vacation Travel Guide
www.go-washington.com

Seattle City Pass
www.citypass.com

Maps
MapEasy's Guidemap to Seattle

Once in Seattle you can find free city maps in hotel lobbies, visitor's centers, and retail stores.

Seattle!!

My husband, brother, and I recently went to Seattle to see Dream Theater's Progressive Nation tour. It was not only a glorious respite from the terrors of our customer service jobs, but it turns out that Seattle is just as awesome as all the guidebooks promised. Though I'm a fairly seasoned traveler, every city is a different experience, and I plan to outline for you the good, the bad, and the ugly of our Seattle adventure!